[Cid_Yama]

Federal and state investigators, eager to show the world that they're on the case, are sifting through Wall Street's debris looking for evidence of wrongdoing. What they know is that big banks created toxic mortgages and securities that brought the global financial system to its knees. What they're trying to figure out is whether firms broke the law, too.

Judging from the growing chorus of angry taxpayers and investors, there will be a push to pin the blame on CEOs, directors, and others at the highest levels of finance. Federal securities regulators, U.S. attorneys, and state attorneys general are investigating a range of possible misdeeds, including the misleading of shareholders, the approval of fraudulent loans, and the foisting of inappropriate mortgages on borrowers. "People want the most visible faces of these companies to pay," says Pravin B. Rao, a former SEC official and currently a partner with corporate law firm Perkins Coie.

What prosecutors most want is a smoking gun -- an e-mail or other document that proves someone intentionally crossed the line. Looking for such clues, the FBI has seized the hard drives of executives at several big banks in recent months. Says Ellen Zimiles, a former assistant U.S. Attorney and co-founder of the fraud risk management firm Daylight Forensic & Advisory: "There will be a paper or electronic trail out there."
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[biofuel13]

Nope. Not going to happen. The public may whine and complain but there will be no justice in this case. These execs have too many connections to even be charged with anything let alone convicted.

[dohboi]

I think the question will be--Did any one even hesitate to "cross the line" if not legally, at least morally. Cid, in your quote on your other thread ("The End") the writer noted that he found no one on Wall Street that ever had any kind of crisis of conscience even as they were going about the business of trashing the world economy and beggaring home owners, shareholders....

It seems clear from this and other indications that no one of these wizards gave a rat's *ss about any kind of moral line, though doubtless many had lawyers busy making sure their own *ss's were covered legally.

[Twilight]

WANTED: A CARICATURE

That's what this is. The authorities are under pressure to take a few scalps, and they will be looking for a few unsympathetic Dr. Evil characters who have little political influence and made the mistake of leaving a soliloquy about world domination in print or better yet, on multimedia. Knowing what arrogant pricks that world contains, they will catch enough to produce a few distracting show trials.

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'l')ooking for a few unsympathetic Dr. Evil characters

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('biofuel13', 'N')ope. Not going to happen. The public may whine and complain but there will be no justice in this case. These execs have too many connections to even be charged with anything let alone convicted.

[RdSnt]

A more realistic approach would be to consider the disciplinary criteria of the military. Afterall, the disaster this has become is a matter of national security.
So, how about charging many of these people with "gross negligence, dereliction of duty and incompetence". This way you don't have to find a trail of illegal acts, which will be almost impossible and take far too long to prosecute in the courts.

[Cid_Yama]

Many wealthy and powerful people, who were <b>not</b> employed on Wall Street, have been taken to the cleaners and are not amused. They <b>are</b> interested in seeing prosecutions.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'M')any wealthy and powerful people, who were <b>not</b> employed on Wall Street, have been taken to the cleaners and are not amused. They <b>are</b> interested in seeing prosecutions.

[ReverseEngineer]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'M')any wealthy and powerful people, who were <b>not</b> employed on Wall Street, have been taken to the cleaners and are not amused. They <b>are</b> interested in seeing prosecutions.

[TommyJefferson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Twilight', 'W')ANTED: A CARICATURE

That's what this is. The authorities are under pressure to take a few scalps, and they will be looking for a few unsympathetic Dr. Evil characters who have little political influence and made the mistake of leaving a soliloquy about world domination in print or better yet, on multimedia. Knowing what arrogant pricks that world contains, they will catch enough to produce a few distracting show trials.

[Cid_Yama]

You're not going to get anything more out of Obama. He just said in his interview on 60 minutes that it was everybody's fault and nobody's fault and he just hopes everyone has learned their lesson and he just wants to look forward. Bull Crap! I want heads.

Fortunately, there are many powerful people who have been burned and there are alternate methods of justice.

Those that were responsible will not sleep soundly and be looking over their shoulders the rest of their lives, which probably won't be long. It's probably best to be handled this way. A lot cheaper and a lot more certain.

[ReverseEngineer]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', '
')I want heads. Fortunately, there are many powerful people who have been burned and there are alternate methods of justice.

Those that were responsible will not sleep soundly and be looking over their shoulders the rest of their lives, which probably won't be long. It's probably best to be handled this way. A lot cheaper and a lot more certain.

[Cid_Yama]

Aren't you supposed to be a minister or something?

Well, I guess the Spanish Inquisition was run by priests, so there is a precedent. I guess everyone should be thankful it wasn't run by nuns.

[TheDude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReverseEngineer', ' ')Now that all the wealth has been sucked up, they are fighting amongst THEMSELVES as to who is responsible for the fact their bank accounts are draining faster than Niagara Falls drains the Great Lakes.

[ReverseEngineer]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'A')ren't you supposed to be a minister or something?

[Newfie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'Y')ou're not going to get anything more out of Obama. He just said in his interview on 60 minutes that it was everybody's fault and nobody's fault and he just hopes everyone has learned their lesson and he just wants to look forward. Bull Crap! I want heads.

Fortunately, there are many powerful people who have been burned and there are alternate methods of justice.

Those that were responsible will not sleep soundly and be looking over their shoulders the rest of their lives, which probably won't be long. It's probably best to be handled this way. A lot cheaper and a lot more certain.

[cube]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'Y')ou're not going to get anything more out of Obama. He just said in his interview on 60 minutes that it was everybody's fault and nobody's fault and he just hopes everyone has learned their lesson and he just wants to look forward.
....

[ReverseEngineer]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('cube', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'Y')ou're not going to get anything more out of Obama. He just said in his interview on 60 minutes that it was everybody's fault and nobody's fault and he just hopes everyone has learned their lesson and he just wants to look forward.
....